Fuel block and briquet.



D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANQOIS OI-IAILLY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD BRIQUETTE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

FUEL BLOCK AND BRIQUET.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 697,234, dated April 8, 1902.

Application filed June 22, 1901. Serial No. 65,585. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANQOIS OHAILLY, a citizen of the French Republic, residing in the borough of the Bronx, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Fuel Blocks and Briquets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to briquets and blocks composed of some form of combustible material formed into a hard mass with the aid of a binder. In order to be commercially available, the material used as a binder for this purpose must be reasonably cheap and accessible and be of such a character that only a small percentage of it need be used to cement together the particles of fuel or combustible material. It should also be of such a character as will prevent the briquets from falling to pieces while burning and enable them to resist breakage from rough handling. Above all it should be of such a character as to prevent the briquet from disintegrating when subjected to the action of moisture.

In carrying out the invention in its preferred form the dry comminuted fuel or combustible material is mixed with a proper proportion of a binder consisting of anhydrous plaster-of-paris, (calcium sulfate,) an aqueous solution of sodium silicate, and a small proportion of dextrine or one of its isomers. The proportions of the ingredients in the mass will usually be about eightyeight pounds of the dry comminuted fuel-as anthracite culm, for example nine pounds of plaster-of-paris, one pound of sodium silicate, and two pounds of dextrine. Enough water will be required to hydrate the plaster, and the dextrine and silicate may be mixed with this water, the dry plaster being thoroughly mixed with the comminuted fuel before the liquid is added. The mass is then molded into blocks or briquets of suitable size and form and permitted to harden. The main function of the silicate is to make the briquets waterproof, and the quantity employed will depend upon the purpose for which the briquets are destined. If they are liable to be subjected to wet or moisture for a considerable time, the proportion of the silicate employed will be as above; but if not the quantity may be somewhat reduced.

As comminuted fuel I may use culm or fine coal from the coal-mines or any other comminuted form of fuel Whatever or any suitable mixture of such comminuted fuel.

The proportions of the ingredients may be varied somewhat without departing from my invention; but those given above will produce good results, and especially when anthracite culm or a mixture of the same with bituminous culm is employed.

As silicic acid is the ingredient desired in the binder and as this is supplied by the sodium silicate, it will be obvious that this acid may be provided and utilized in various ways. For example, I may employ an aqueous solution of silicic acid in lieu of the sodium silicate, or in lieu of the latter potassium silicate may be employed; but it is more costly; or anhydrous calcium oxid (quicklime) may be used in conjunction with the calcium sulfate, and in that case if a solution of silicic acid be used calcium silicate will be formed in the briquet.

This invention is not restricted to any form or size of the lumps, blocks, pieces, or briquets formed from the composition described.

If calcium oxid be employed in lieu of or in conjunction with the plaster, it may be slaked in the process of making the briquets.

I am well aware that briquets have been formed heretofore of comminuted fuel and a binder; but so far as I am aware none of these have employed a binder consisting of a calcium sulfate and silicic acid with or with out dextrine.

It should be understood that the anhydrous form of silicic acid is excluded, as it is insoluble in water and most mediums. I

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A fuel block or briquet composed of comminuted fuel and a binder containing as essential ingredients calcium sulfate and silicic acid.

2. Afuel block or briquet composed of comminuted fuel and a binder containing as ingredients calcium sulfate, sodium silicate IOO 

